Introduction

This special bonus MG:MG scenario assumes the potential ("what if'...) situation, what could have happened, if SHAEF had abandoned any plans about a joint Allied (US - British) airborne attack in Holland leaving ambitious Field Marshal Montgomery alone with the idea to dash across the Rhine swiftly to end the war soon.

The operation was planned as an airborne attack of the reinforced British 1 AB Division in the area between north of the Rhine and in the middle between Maas and Waal Rivers to be relieved by elements of the XXX British Corps spearheaded by the British Armored Guards Division. The attack was determined to be started on September 7th, 1944, expecting actually no major opposition in this backyard of the front. Additionally the critical II SS corps was reported to be retreated for refit in a far more southern region of Germany around the Saarland to repel the impending assault of Patton's 3rd army. So there seemed to be a chance to do the mission in these early September days, but Monty changed his mind and the invasion of Holland was postponed once more. But you can check it out now, what would have been the outcome of such an operation!

Rules:

All the rules for MG:MG are in effect, if not otherwise stated below (see special rules section). Use the Turn Sequence as outlined in the rules for this scenario and on the player aid card (especially the D-Day sequence), too.

Rationale:

The info on the set - up is referring on ELLIS' Victory in the West II and SOSABOWSKI'S Freely I Served.

Special thanks to Doug Dery providing much help to find some more detailed information on this theme.

Set - Up Instruction

Germans (set up first):

1) Take the German normal set-up.

2) Put out of the game ALL UNITS WITH an identification for 9 SS and 10 SS along the II SS corps arty (don't forget the 2 units in R).

3) All other SS units available for the game are unaffected.

4) Take away one German supply depot marker for a total of 4 available.

British (set up second, but before air bombardment on D-Day):

1) The British Guards division starts in F (incl. 50/231).

2) The British 1st Para Regiment (1/1, 1/2, 1/3) is set up in ONE or TWO ADJACENT AREAS in the 1 AB sectoralong the restrictions outlined in 23.2 (optional rules).

3) The British Air landing Brigade (2SthST / KSOB / 1 BOR) along with the division arty in any valid (see 23.2) ONE OR TWO adjacent areas EAST OF THE MAAS - WAAL CANAL and SOUTH OF THE WAAL in the 82 AB sector.

4) The 4th Para Bde (10 / 11 / 156 Btn) in ONE OR TWO adjacent areas WEST OF THE MAAS - WAAL CANAL and SOUTH OF THE WAAL in the 82 AB sector (inclusive Grave).

5) The units of the Polish Bde (1 Pol, 2 Pol, 3 01) are EITHER held in the U.K. box for reinforcement on Sept. 7th and thereafter OR placed in MALDEN. You can choose for every single unit in this portion.

6) ONE Glider Patrol unit of the 2 units available can be attached to every of the above 4 portions of airborne units (see # 2-5 above); so two portions only can get the attachment.

7) The British XXX corps gets all 5 supply markers.

8) RAF 2 and RAF 83 are available for play.

Airborne supply in Comet:

1) Add one British Control marker in ONE of the 2 air landing areas for this portion of units.

2) Each control marker works further on as a refit head.

3) Additionally the US air supply marker is received along to the normal rules.

4) Each refit head can receive 5 supply points maximally.

5) The daily supply total for 1 AB Div is 10 supply points (take the 1 AB supply marker on the supply track to keep in mind how many supply points used in the refit phase).

6) The Allied player can allocate the supply points between the refit heads as he sees fit up to the maximum possible (see #4).

7) When supply points are allocated to a refit head, reduce the amount by the applicable interdiction value.

8) Contested refit heads cannot bring out supply points out of the area as usual.

British Reinforcements for Comet:

1) Sept. 7th: if chosen the Polish Para units in the U.K. box (maybe along with maximally 1 GP unit) they can reinforce ANY AREA IN THE 82 AB SECTOR SOUTH OF THE WAAL with another British 1 AB unit, if contested or not. Air landing procedure and in-flight restriction (3 units per impulse) as usual.

2) Sept. 8th: the British player chooses 5 out of the 10 reinforcement units on the chart from 43th Div and independent units. This units are set-up in zone F AT THE MOMENT WHEN A XXX corps unit stays in an area north of the ZUID - WILHELMSVAART CANAL at the end of an impulse, contesting or controlling it.

3) Sept. 9th: the British player rolls a die: the number rolled equals the units received from the pool of the units of Sept. 8th not already in play (a dr =6 means to roll the die once more). Units are available in zone F!

4) Sept. 10th: at dawn the British player can choose I unit of the pool of XXX corps units available on this date and set-up immediately in zone F.

Rationale: it is supposed that all units of the XXX corps didn't make it to the front on Sept, 7th or are used to push into the Schelde - Mondung, which is a more favored target by SHAEF in these days.

German Reinforcements for Comet:

You don't get all the outlined units on the Reinforcement Chart: some may be out of the game, others can be delayed one or more turns.

1) No 9SS or 10SS units available.

2) Other SS units are available.

3) If in a zone reinforcements are available this turn, at least ONE UNIT is received (German player's choice).

4) The second and further units at zone G / H need a dr = 12 to come into the game; dr = 3-4 try it in the next dawn phase once more; dr = 5 - 6 unit out of the game.

5) Units in other zones are checked with a dr, too. dr = 1-4 unit arrives on schedule; dr = 5 try it in the next dawn phase once more; dr = 6 (only) means the unit doesn , t arrive in the game at all.

6) The German Air Interdiction Marker on Sept. 8th is received without a dr for free.

Rationale: in the west the Germans fight against the dash on the Schelde estuary and in the east there are other hot spots to handle with; in the south Patton has more fuel, maybe ...

Special Rules:

1) There is no weather rule 6.21 in the first 2 turns of the scenario (we suppose the optimal weather condition for Monty on Sept. 7th - 8th). Instead of it the weather can only change if the Germans own the advantage and return it to the British for the weather change (i.e. paying 1 VP) not earlier than at dawn phase on Sept. 9th or later in the turn. The rules concerning the change, if it happens, run according to the rules (see 17.0). More weather changes are possible then by the normal rules only.

2) The region triggering a possible double impulse (see 14.5 Zone F) is extended besides Zone F to ALL AREAS SOUTH OF THE ZUID WILHELMSVAART CANAL. Any area there qualifies for the special double impulse, if British controlled at the start of the impulse and a supply line to zone F exists.

Comet Victory Conditions:

In general: the victory point areas and items in the rules don't alter in any respect. There are only some ADDITIONS to be made:

SUDDEN DEATH: the Allied player wins if he achieves to get any XXX corps unit in any condition (fresh or fatigued) into ARNHEM AREA at the end of the 3RD TURN (i.e. Sept. 9th) after the regroups. A line of supply to Zone F is required anyway, too.

VICTORY POINT COUNT

1) VP areas SOUTH OF THE RHINE which aren't occupied (controlled or uncontrolled) by at least ONE ALLIED UNIT at the end of the game count also 1/6 VP for the Germans as well as RECONTESTED areas (see 21.4).

2) The Allies need 11 VPs to win AFTER THE 4TH TURN on Sept. 10th.

3) There is no further play after the 4th turn (it's a scenario only!).